COMPONENT I
CANDIDATE STUDY GUIDE
ORAL MEDICINE AND ORAL PATHOLOGY
Introduction
The intent of this guide is to provide the candidate with an understanding of the
format used for the Component I of the National Dental Specialty Examination
(NDSE).
The example questions are intended for candidates in Oral Medicine and Oral
Pathology and are meant to demonstrate the various styles of questions that may
appear in the exam. The content is meant for illustrative purposes only and
should not be construed as an example of the difficulty level of the examination.
For information on examination content please refer to the Examinations –
Component I section for your specialty.
Component I Examination Questions
The Component I Examination is a test of Oral Medicine and Oral Pathology
knowledge including the basic sciences as well as clinical-based questions. The
level of knowledge required is consistent with the accreditation requirements of
each of the specialties. For example, for basic science questions, the level of
knowledge expected is beyond that of the predoctoral dental curriculum, and is
consistent with achieving proficiency in the specialty. The questions on this
exam use only short answer questions and candidates are required to provide
single or multiple written answers.
Examples of questions from the Component I Examination are provided below.
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Page 1
Question #1
When using this procedure what are the likely outcomes if you …….?
3 points
What are the four major dental materials used in….?
4 points
1.
2.
3.
4.
Which microorganism is the likely cause of the lesion shown in Figure 21?
1 point
Match the following procedures with the potential complications?
3 points
Procedure
1. xxxxx
2. yyyy
3. zzzz
Potential complication
a. xyz
b. abc
c. def
d. ghi
Procedure 1 -- potential complications
Procedure 2 -- potential complications
Procedure 3 -- potential complications
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Page 2
Question #2
A 54 year old male presents to your office for a new patient examination. During
your discussion of his medical history you note that he takes the following
medications:
______________ , ___________________,
___________________and__________________.
What are the mechanisms of action of these drugs?
4 points
Drug #1
Drug #2
Drug #3
Drug #4
What disease or diseases does this patient suffer from?
2 points
What additional information do you want to know about this patient's disease
that will help you to assess his relative risk of medical complications related to
this underlying condition?
4 points
Note two potential complications (associated with his underlying disease) that
this patient may experience in your office.
2 Points
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Page 3
On the basis of his list of medications, what would your rating of his strategic
physiologic reserve and risk of complications or emergencies (related to his
underlying disease) be?
2 points
Reserve:
Risk:
How might your treatment precipitate a crisis in his underlying condition?
3 points
Question # 3
A 60 year old male has collapsed in your waiting room and is now unconscious.
He was in the clinic for the routine extraction of 4 periodontally involved lower
incisors. It is mid-morning. You have been called immediately by your
receptionist who tells you that he became pale, confused, sweaty and then
collapsed. Note a four item differential diagnosis for this situation:
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Page 4
4 points
How will you immediately manage this acute situation?
8 points
Five minutes later (after the initial collapse), your assistant finds the chart (it
was misfiled) and tells you that he is _______________. What does this suggest
regarding the etiology of the emergency and how will you handle this situation?
(The patient is still unconscious)
2 points
Etiology:
Treatment:
How could this situation have been prevented?
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
1 point
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Which drugs will you have in your emergency kit, note their indication (name
the emergency) and what dosage and route will you use?
Name
Indication
Dose and Route
What equipment will you have in your emergency kit, note the indication for its
use (name the emergency) and how will you use it?
Name
Indication
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
7 points
Mechanism of Use
Page 6
6 points
Question # 4
Draw a block diagram of the circulatory system illustrating the heart, brain,
intestines, kidneys, liver, lungs and major blood vessels.
8 points
Question # 5
What two medications are commonly used for the treatment of this disease?
2 points
1.
2.
What is the most common oral manifestation of this disease?
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
1 point
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List four complications of this disease or its treatment
4 points
1.
2.
3.
4.
What pathogens are associated with this disease?
2 points
What are the main clinical findings associated with this disease?
2 points
Question # 6
Pre-prosthetic periodontal regenerative procedures aspire to the goal of
regeneration of critical structure/tissue designed to restore those parts of the
tooth-supporting apparatus which have been lost due to periodontitis. What are
these critical structures/tissues?
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
Page 8
4 points
Question # 7
Periodontal regeneration procedures are often enhanced by various graft or
Implant materials. Name four of the basic categories of these grafts or implant
materials and briefly describe the difference.
4 points
Question # 8
Squamous carcinoma accounts for what percentage of all oral cancers?
1 point
Question # 9
The muscles of mastication are derived from which branchial arch during
development?
1 point
Question # 10
The primary reason for the loss of natural tooth abutments in overdenture
wearers is related to what factor?
© 2014 The Royal College of Dentists of Canada.
1 point
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